The Beast of the Albard Mansion - Chapter 22
Werewolf. I had read about them in books too. An Osk was a beast that walked on two legs. Its legs were like those of a dog, with thighs as thick as a waist and knees that bent backward. While its upright posture made it look somewhat human, it was covered in fur.
An Osk’s intelligence was known to be around that of a six-year-old child. However, the werewolf that the hunter mentioned was a completely different kind of creature.
It wasn’t even accurate to call it a beast. Like elves, fairies, and dwarves with intelligence comparable to humans, werewolves were a highly intelligent species. They were ferocious and hard to tame, a species similar to humans.
Known for their relentless and persistent nature, if one of their kind was killed, all the others would seek bloody vengeance.
“But they clearly said it was an Osk.”
“And why on earth have you been feeding it so well? That… it’s beyond control.”
Father looked bewildered, then slowly turned to look at Desi. Desi stood there quietly, but his bright yellow eyes were fixed directly on the two men, as if he was listening to their entire conversation. With a cold, hardened face, Desi stared straight at Father and the hunter, his eyes shining as if he could see through everything.
Father’s adam’s apple bobbed nervously. If Desi really was a werewolf, as the hunter said, Father seemed to realize that the incidents occurring around the village might be the work of werewolves looking for their kin. Fearfully, Father commanded Desi in a trembling voice.
“Return to the dungeon.”
Desi looked at me once, and when I nodded silently, he obediently turned around. He didn’t pay any attention to the servant holding his leash and walked back on his own. As Desi led the way, the servant merely held the leash, being led rather than leading.
Father’s face turned pale. Only now did he seem to realize that something was seriously wrong. He watched Desi’s retreating figure intently, puzzled by how much he had grown. It seemed inconceivable to him that the beast, which had initially been so dirty and matted that it could be mistaken for an Osk, had grown so much.
When Father first saw Desi, he had been so filthy and tangled that his true appearance was unrecognizable. Desi’s body had been emaciated, and he had constantly crouched and growled, not looking at all like the formidable werewolf described in books. He didn’t speak human language, only howling like an animal. But now, with his growth and clean appearance, it was hard to see him as an Osk.
Once Desi disappeared from view, Father grabbed the hunter.
“So, are there werewolves around our village?”
“Perhaps, but perhaps not.”
“What do you mean by that?!”
Father shouted, his voice rising in fear, causing the hunter to look irritated.
“The werewolves’ habitat is far from here. I’ve only encountered one werewolf before, and I barely survived. They are a terrifying species. If werewolves were here, this village and mansion would have already been destroyed.”
“Then it’s not the work of werewolves?”
“When did you bring that werewolf here?”
“A little over a year ago.”
“I’ve heard of people taming young werewolves, but never fully grown ones. And you’ve been feeding it so well… It’s incredibly healthy.”
“We only fed it a little… but you saw just now. It obeys my commands. I’ve tamed that werewolf.”
“Then that would be something to write about in a book. Anyway, I don’t mess with werewolves. They’re incredibly persistent and vengeful. They never forget a grudge, even after several generations.”
“Then what should we do?”
“You can’t let that werewolf out of the mansion. If it tells its kin about its grudge, dozens of werewolves will invade. It’s best to nip the evil in the bud before it grows.”
The hunter’s eyes glinted with a cold edge. Both Father and the hunter fell silent for a long while.
The hunter seemed to consider Desi a very dangerous being, strongly suspecting that Desi was responsible for the events in the village. Despite Father insisting that Desi had never left the mansion’s dungeon, the hunter was not convinced.
The two of them went inside the mansion to discuss further. Since they went into the drawing-room, I couldn’t overhear their conversation.
With Desi’s true identity revealed, the atmosphere in the mansion grew tense. Everyone feared a werewolf invasion, trembling at the thought.
Although no one had seen werewolves, many rumors circulated about what kind of beings they were. While their numbers weren’t as large as human armies, it was said that a small village’s forces wouldn’t stand a chance against them.
Their incredible strength made them a disaster for ordinary humans. They could run at an unbeatable speed, split trees, and kill their prey instantly with their sharp fangs. They were an unmatched species.
To nip the evil in the bud before it grows… The hunter seemed to think that releasing Desi would be more dangerous, believing that if Desi were freed, he would return with other werewolves to seek revenge.
